I blinked, and the world shifted.
The cold, sharp pain of Sonya's knife was gone, and it was replaced by the familiar scent of old wood and cleaning supplies.
I used my hands to dab my eyes. I wanted to be sure my mind was not playing games on me. I looked around. I was standing in the school's hallway.
The familiar multi-colored walls stared at me. The incessant chatter of students who passed by and the low hum of the hall's air conditioning resounded in my ear.
I was standing in front of Blake's locker again—right back at the moment I'd been snooping, searching for answers, desperate and afraid.
My heart hammered in my chest, but it was different this time. I felt… anchored. Older. Wiser. Stronger.
I touched myself, my fingers skimming through my school uniform, to make sure I was not dreaming.
"What's happening?" I asked myself with a hushed voice. Was this moment real? Was I?....
I had been reborn!!
Gosh!! I had come back to earth. My prayers had been answered.
How was this possible? Was this a game? A dream maybe?
The memory of my death, of Sonya's cruel smile and the darkness that swallowed me lingered at the edges of my mind.
It took me sometime, but I finally accepted that I died and came back to life. I know Sonya was waiting for me in her father's office. She was waiting for me to confront her so that she would stab me again.
I was not going to give her that chance. I would take hold and seize my future.
I reached for the letter, the one that caused all this pain.
My fingers brushed the paper, but I didn't open it. I didn't need to. I already knew what it said, and I already knew that whatever Blake and Sonya had, it wasn't worth my tears.
My heart had suddenly become as cold as stone. I knew that if I had died, Sonya and Blake would go on to live happily ever after.
Blake's parents would be skeptical of Sonya at first, but with her magical Vulkyrie powers, she would have her way into compelling them to accept her as their daughter-in-law.
I let the letter drop back into the drawer and smiled. I was back. I was alive. And this time, I wasn't going to let anyone else write my story for me.
I closed my eyes and tilted my head up, whispering, "Thank you, Moon Goddess. Thank you for this second chance."
A warm, silvery glow seemed to pulse in my chest, and I felt a deep, bone-deep gratitude. I had come back with powers this time. Was that my wolf manifesting?
I could feel it in every cell, every breath. I was here to make things right, to be better, to become who I was always meant to be.
I remembered what Sonya said. She talked about how I was more powerful than her and how I had potential and I did not know.
She probably mentioned that I had an ability. What could that ability be? Could I teleport? Could it be that I was a hybrid? Or better , a powerful Trybrid?
Then, just as I was basking in that gratitude, a voice, light, teasing, almost musical—rang out in my head.
"Silly girl. Did you really think the Moon Goddess did all this herself?"
I froze, eyes wide. "Who—what—?"
The voice giggled. "Don't panic. I'm your system. Or, more precisely, your Siren System. You can call me Sia."
I blinked rapidly, looking around, but the hallway was empty. The voice was coming from inside me, but not in a scary way. It felt… right. Like a missing piece sliding into place.
Suddenly, a holographic screen popped up in front of me. It was something only I could see.
"I saved you from death," Sia typed, a hint of pride in her tone. "Though, I'll admit, Sonya did a number on you. She managed to steal most of your powers before you died. Sneaky Valkyrie."
I remembered the kiss, the betrayal, the knife. My hand drifted to my side, half-expecting to find a wound. There was nothing but smooth, unbroken skin.
Sia's tone softened. "Don't worry. You're not powerless. You're a Syren—half siren, half werewolf. Some of your powers are just… locked away at the moment."
"Locked away?" I whispered.
"Mm-hmm. Sonya trapped your werewolf side in a storybook. She wanted to frustrate you, keep you weak. But you're not weak, Blair. Not even close. Even now, you're one of the most powerful girls in all the academies. You just didn't know it."
"I don't understand,"I tried to indulge Sia, urging her to explain what was happening to me.
"You will have to live your life as a werewolf queen. You have to show confidence, power, courage and most importantly, you have to live your best life. If by the time you are able to rescue yourself from the werewolf book and you've not lived your life to its potential, you've failed."
"Your werewolf self does not know you are being reborn. Your werewolf self has to make sure you do away with keeping your feelings oppressed, stop being a rag for others to trample on. Stop being weak and stop being vulnerable," Sia continued.
I felt a feeling of confusion and fear. "So… what do I do?"
"I'll explain later. First, you need to reach Level 200. That'll unlock your full Siren potential. And then, you need to find the book Sonya used to seal your werewolf side. Only then will you have all your powers back."
I pressed my hand to my heart, tears stinging my eyes. "Thank you. Thank you for saving me."
Sia's voice was gentle. "You're welcome. And, for the record, it's because you kissed Sonya before you died. That's what activated me. Funny how fate works, isn't it? You're a lesbian, stop hiding it."
I let the tears fall, silent and grateful. I'd been given a second chance—a chance to be more than just the scared, lost girl I'd been before. I could be strong. I could be whole.
I wiped my face, took a deep breath, and squared my shoulders. The world felt different—like the colors were brighter, the air sharper, my senses clearer. I could feel the echo of power humming under my skin, waiting to be awakened.
I decided to avoid classes for the day and made my way to the gym, the sound of laughter and music spilling out into the hallway.
The cheerleading team was practicing, their energy infectious. I hesitated at the door, nerves fluttering in my stomach, but Sia's voice nudged me forward.
Sonya was part of this team. I was not sure I was ready to collide with her just yet.
"Go on. You've got this."
I stepped inside, and the girls turned to look at me. For the first time, I didn't shrink back. I met their eyes, head held high.
"Hey," I said, my voice steady. "Can I join you?"
The captain, a tall girl with bright green hair, grinned at me. "Of course! We could use another strong girl."
I smiled, feeling the warmth of acceptance spread through me. I joined the formation, my movements awkward at first, but I caught on quickly.
With every jump, every cheer, I felt my confidence growing. I was here. I was alive. I was making the most of my second chance.
On my way out of the gym, I saw Blake in the hallway. He looked just as surprised to see me as I was to see him. For a moment, the old pain threatened to rise up, but I pushed it down. I didn't need him. Not anymore.
He opened his mouth to say something, but I walked past him without a word, my head held high. I didn't look back. "I'll talk to you later, Blake."
Blake was shocked. I know he was expecting me to fawn over him like before. I would make sure him and Sonya paid for what they did to me.
Sia's voice was smug. "Nicely done."
I grinned. "Thanks."
School eventually came to and end and I entered into my government assigned car back home.
Yes! Every student had a government protected taxi's that would take them back home. This was to shield them from the sneaky aliens.
I made a promise to myself. I would find the storybook. I would unlock my full power.
I would make sure my werewolf self tried her best to love her life to her full potential.
I would defeat the Valkyries, protect my friends, and maybe—even end the apocalypse.
I pressed my hand to my heart, feeling the steady beat of hope and determination. "Thank you, Moon Goddess," I whispered again. "Thank you for my second chance."
"We're just getting started, Blair. The world
has no idea what's coming. Your first quest is coming up!" Sia typed on the system. I couldn't be more excited.